The Longhorns and Red Raiders will play for the national championship in a do-or-die Game 3 on Friday.
AUSTIN, Texas — The Women’s College World Series and the 2025 national champion has not yet been crowned.
Despite entering Game 2 with a chance to clinch the series and take home the program’s first national championship, the Texas Longhorns fell just short on Thursday night, losing to Texas Tech 4-3 and pushing the series to an all-or-nothing Game 3 on Friday.
The Longhorns won Game 1 on the back of pitcher Teagan Kavan, who managed to give up just three hits through seven innings of work. In Game 2, the Burnt Orange turned to senior Mac Morgan, who threw two innings on Thursday.
Freshman Cambria Salmon saw three innings of work in relief, and held steady until the fifth inning. Two runs scored after Salmon hit a batter, which walked home a run, and threw a wild pitch during the next at-bat, allowing a runner to score from third.
The Longhorns pulled a run back in the top-half of the sixth inning on a Mia Scott home run, but the Red Raiders scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning that ultimately proved to be enough to withstand a seventh inning rally from the Longhorns.
As was the case in Game 1, NiJaree Canady was masterful for the Red Raiders. While she did give up more hits and a home run in Game 2, she still kept the Longhorns chasing the game throughout, allowing Texas Tech to build what would become an insurmountable lead.
The Red Raiders’ win Thursday means the national championship will be decided in Game 3 Friday night, and another pitcher’s duel could be in store. The Longhorns will most likely start Teagan Kavan in Game 3, while Canady will likely start yet another game for Texas Tech.